Printing-machine



w. M. BACON.

PRINTING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED'MAR-ZQ, 1920- 1,385,654, Patented July 26, 1921.

.Imra'fifiurifi ETi- William M E as cm,

flis jig-gays- W. M. BACON.

PRINTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEDIMAR-ZQ, 1920.

. 1,385,654. Patented July 26,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. M; BACON.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-29, 1920.

1,385,654. Patented y 26, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3. 31-1 E.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. BACON,

or crrrceeo. ILLINOIS; ASSIGNOR r0 ENAMELED STEEL fsre'n COMPANY, orcmcne 'rrrrnors, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

: V Specification otI-etters Patent. Pafijjtd J l 26 1921 Applicationfiled'March 2a, 1920. Serial No. 369,460.

improved sheet feeding and delivering devices for feeding sheetsof'metal, wood, cardboard, or fabric to the printing mechanism of themachine and delivering them after the impressions have beenreceived'thereon. The specific improvements will be readily understoodfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings; in which bigure 1 is a broken plan view of theprinting machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a broken sideelevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the ma chine. I v

Fig. 4 is a detailed view illustrating the guiding mechanism for feedingthe work between the printing cylinders after it has been moved towardthe printing point by the feeding mechanism. 1 y

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings themachine comprises an open metal frame including cornerv standards 1preferably composed of angle iron, said standards supporting alowerrectangular frame 2 and an upper frame. 3. Approximately centrallydisposed and rising at the side of the frame areheavy stand- 'ards 4constructedpreferably of I-beams.

The motor M' for operating the machine is mounted on a standard 5extending transversely of the machine and carried. by the sidemembers'of' the lowerframe 2.

I Extendingtransversely and lying within the frame is a cylinder 6supported upon a shaft 7, the shaft 7 being journaled at each endin'movablefbearings 8 slidably mounted in openings 9 ,in the web ofstandards 4. The bearings .8 are raised and lowered by bearing adjustingmechanism of known construction which is operated the hand rod 10. Thecylinder 6 constitutes theplaten upon which the work is fed to receiveprinting impressions from the printing roller.

As it is desirable to adapt the machine to receive, material of variousthicknesses and to adjust the pressure of the work against the printingcylinder, the machine has been arranged so that by the operation of thehand rod 10 an extremely accurate adjustment of the shaft 7 may beeffected.

The type cylinder 11 is carried on a shaft 12 which is journaled at eachend in permanently adjusted bearings 13 mounted at thetopof thestandards 4. The axis of the shaft 12 1s 1n parallel vertical alinementwith the axis of the shaft 7 and since the shaft 7 1s adjustablevertically the space be tween the proximate peripheries of the cyllnders6 and 11 may be varied as requiredv for receiving the work at theprinting point of varying thickness, so that regardless of the thicknessof the work a uniform pressure is exerted thereon toeffect the printingas it passes between said cylinders 6 and 11 at the printing point. Themechanism for rotating the cylinders 6-and11 in synchronism comprises apinion 14 attached to the drive shaft 15of the motor which extendsbeyond the frame work at one side ofthe machine. The pinion 14 mesheswith and drives a large gear wheel 16 which is fast on an extended endof the shaft 7 An intermediate pair of gears are arranged in a movablebearing 17, said mov-.

able bearing being supported at the junction of links 18 and 19,theouter ends of which are'respectiv-ely pivoted upon. shafts 7 and 12.The pair of intermediate gears are mounted upon a common shaft 20 whichis revolubly mounted in the adjustable bearing 17. The pair of gears arein parallel vertical planes and the inner one 21 of said gears mesheswith the large gear 16 and the outer one22 of said pair of gears meshes.with a gear 23 whichis mounted upon the link 19, the gear 23 in turnmeshing with and driving a gear 24 secured to an extension of the shaft12. The gear 24 has a releasable connectionv with the shaft 12 in theform of an adjustable cone clutch 25 of known construction. The gear 24is ar-. ranged so that itv may be rotated in adjusting operationswithout rotating the shaft 12 and thereby the cylinder 11, so that afterthe adjustment is effected the-gear wheel may be locked to the shaft 12.I

It will be observed that the drive connection whereby the shaft 12 isdriven permits the elevation of the axis of the shaft 7 to be changedwithout throwing out of mesh the driving connection between the twocylinders. Obviously, as the shaft 7 is lowered the axes of the pair ofgears 21 and 22 is drawn inwardly, preserving the meshing engagementbetween the gear 21 and the gear 16, the normal adjustment of the axesof the gears 22 and 23 and between the axes of the gear 23 and 24. Bythis arrangement it will be seen that the two cylinders 6 and 11 may bedriven in synchronismregardless of the adjustment of theshaft 7 uponwhich the cylinder 6 is supported.

The mechanism for feeding the work to the printing point between thecylinders comprises an endless belt or chain 26 which operates overalined sprockets 27 and 28, said sprockets being carried respectively byshafts 29 and 30 journaled in bearings 31 and 32 on the upper face ofthe frame 3. The shaft 29 is disposed near one end of the frame and theshaft 30 is arranged in parallel alinement therewith but near theprinting cylinders. The sprockets 27 and .28 are arranged so that theendless belt or chain 26 extends longitudinally with the frame of themachine at a position intermediate of the width of the machine. At oneside of the belt 26 is a series of permanently fixed revoluble rollers33, said rollers being arranged in supports with the axes thereofparallel in ahorizontal plane and inclining forwardly toward the righthand side of the machine. At the right hand side of the belt 26 is asecond series of rollers 34 which are in alaterally adjustable supportcomprising side members35 and end members 36,,the end members 36 beingadjustably supported by cross bars 37 'carriedby the frame of themachine; Thus the entireframe in which the rollers 34 are supported maybe moved toward and awayfromthe belt 26 so that the feeding mechanism isadapted to receive material ofdifferent widths. When the adjustment hasbeen effected the support may be locked in position by set screws 38,which look the end members 36 of the roller supporting frame with thebars The rollers 34 are arranged in the same horizontal plane with therollers 33 and have their axes inclined outwardly toward the right handside of the machine at thesame angle of inclination as the axes oftherollers .33.

At the outer side of the movable frame,

.in which the rollers 34 are supported, is a vertically disposed guidestrip 39 for guiding-the edge of the work as iii is fed by the feedingmechanism to the. printing rollers. The belt 26 carries a number ofadjustable lugs 40 which contact with the forward end of the fiatsheetsof work when the same are placed uponthe. rollers 33 and 34,- andthe lugs extend above the horizontal plane of the upper surface of thetwo sets of rollers.

As the work is moved forwardly by the inward movement of the belt,exerting pressure upon the front edge ofthe work through the lugs 40,the fiat sheets aremoved'to the right hand side of the machine againstthe inner face of the guide strip 39 and at the same time fed inwardlytoward the printing point. The feeding mechanism thus automaticallyadjusts the position of the sheets clearly shown from which View it willbe observed that a sheet S of the work, after it leaves the roller, israised by thejguide strip 41 to a horizontal plane coincident with thespace between the cylinders 6 and 11. The guide strip 41 has sufficientresilience so that when the cylinder 6 is lowered the forward end of thestrip will be depressed sufficiently to maintain the adjustment betweenthe periphery of the cylinder at the printing point and the inner edgeof the guide strip so that regardless of the adjustment of the cylinder6, the work will always be presented in the proper horizontal plane tobe received between the cylinders 6 and 11 at the printing point, f

In the rear of the cylinders is a work discharging mechanism comprisinganumber of longitudinally disposed and parallel alined belts 42 whichoperate over rollers 43 supported on shafts 44 journaled in brackets 45mounted on the upper face of the frame of the machine. Both the belt 26and the belts 42 are movedin the same direction, that is from theforward. end of the machine toward the rear thereof, by drivingmechanism comprising a gear 46 which meshes with the large gear wheel16, the gear 46 in turn meshing with and driving a pinion 47 fast ontheforward oneof the shafts 44, thereby rotating said shaft 44, Theshaft'44' carries alsprocketwheel 48, and the inner'one of the shafts 30carries a sprocket wheel 49. i A belt connection-50 operating over thesprockets 48 and 49 pro,-

myself therefore to the exact construction shown and described, but'whatI claim and vdesire to secure by LettersPatent, is

' thereon for moving said sheets on said rollers, and a guide forlaterally alining the sheets so that-they will be received-betweentheprintingcylinder and the-platen at apredetermined lateral point.

1 2. In a printing machine, including a main frame, a printing cylinderrevolubly mounted above the upper surface of the main frame,a platenlocated below the upper surface of the main frame, feeding mechanismcomprising a series of feed rollers'carried in the main frame forsupporting flat sheets to be fed between said printing cylinder and saidplaten, a belt having contact members thereon for moving said sheets onsaid rollers, a guide for laterally alining the'sheets so that they willbe received between the printing cylinder "and the platen at apredetermined lateral point, and a guide for elevating the sheets fedfrom said rollers so that they will be received in the space between theprinting cylinder and the platen.

3. In a printing machine, including a printing cylinder and acoordinating platen spaced therefrom, a feeding mechanism comprising anendless belt having contact members thereon adapted to engage sheets ofwork and to move the same toward the in terval between the printingcylinder and said platen, a lateral guide for guiding the work so movedby said feeding belt, a series of rollers for supporting the .work anddirecting the same into marginal engagement with said guide, and a guidedevice for elevating the work so as to enter the interval between saidprinting cylinder and said platen to receive the printing impressions,

4, In a printing machine, including a printing cylinder and acoordinating platen spaced therefrom, feeding mechanism comprising anendless belt having contact members thereon adapted to engage sheets ofwork and to move the same toward the in terval between the printingcylinder and said platen, a lateral guide for guiding the work so movedby said feeding belt, a series of rollers for supporting the work anddirecting the same into marginal engagement with said guide, a guidedevice for elevating the work so as to enter the interval between saidprinting cylinder and said platen to receive the printing impressions.

5. In a pr nting machine, including a receive the :work

,printing'cylinder and a platen, said printing cylinder and platen beingarranged to therebetween; a feeding mechanlsm compr1s1ng a series ofrollers having-their peripheries in the same horizontal plane andapproximately in the same planeas the space-between the printlngcylinder-and the platen, said rollers being arranged to guide the worktoward one edge of the machine, a guide strip runningbvertically at oneside of said rollers forguiding the work moved thereagainst by therollers, a continuously operating-actuator for moving the work placedupon said rollers toward the interval between the printing cylinderandthe platen, and'means for driving said printing cylinder, said platenand said feeding mechanism from a common :source of power.

6; In a printing machine, including, a prlntlng cylinder and a platen,sald printing cylinder and platen'being arranged to receive the worktherebetween; a feeding mechanism comprising a series of rollers havingtheiriperipheries' in the same horiazontal plane and approximately inthe same 'p'lane'as the-space between the printing cylfinder and theplaten, said rollersbeing arranged to guide the work toward'one edge ofthe machine,: a. guide strip running vertically at one side of saidrollers for guiding the work moved thereagainst by the rollers, acontinuously operating actuator for moving the work placed upon saidrollers toward the interval between the printing cylinder and theplaten, means for driving said printing cylinder, said platen and saidfeeding mechanism from a common source of power, and a guide at theinner end of said series of rollers for raising the work as it leavesthe rollers and directing it into the space between the printingcylinder and the platen.

7 In a printing machine, including a printing cylinder and a platen,said printing cylinder and platen being arranged to receive worktherebetween; a feeding mech anism comprising two series of rollershaving their peripheries in the same horizontal plane and approximatelyin the same plane asthe space between the printing cylinder and theplaten, said rollers being arranged to guide the work toward one edge ofthe machine, a guide strip running vertically at one side of saidrollers for guiding the work moved thereagainst by the rollers, a

continuously operating actuator for moving work; a feeding-mechanismcomprising a double series of rollers arranged in longitudinalalinementwith an interval therebetween, a moving actuator operating between therollers having means for engaging the work,

a guide disposed at one side of said rollers for preserving the marginalalinement of the work moved toward the printing cylinders by saidactuator, and driving mechanism for actuating said cylinders and saidactuator from a common source of power 9. In a printing machine,including a rigid frame, two rotating printing cylinders in the frame,said cylinders being arranged with a space therebetween; feedingmechanism comprising a movable belt having a path of travel toward thespace between said cylinders, a rigid support mounted in said frame onone'side of said belt, a series of rollers in said frame inclined at anangle so that work placed thereon will be moved toward one side of themachine, an adjustable support on the other side of said belt effectinglateral adjustment of said lastnamed support. v

10. In a printing machine, including a rigid frame and two rotatingprinting cylinders arranged with a space therebetween; a feedingmechanism comprising a 'movable belt having a path of travel toward thespace between said cylinders, a rigid support mounted in said frame onone side of said belt, a series of rollers in said frame inclined at anangle so that work placed thereon will be moved toward one side of themachine, an adjustable support on the other side of said belt having aseries of rollers therein disposed in alinement with said first-namedrollers, a marginal guide strip for contacting with the edge of the workfed toward the printing mechanism by said belt, means for effectinglateral adjustment of said last-named support,'and

a conveyor on the opposite side of the printing mechanism forconveying'the work from the machine after the same has passed'betweensaid cylinders. v

" WILLIAM M. BACON.

